TIP: If the container you choose won't hold water, place a smaller plastic container—like a yogurt or cottage cheese container—inside it.

Step 2: Fill with water Fill the container halfway with cool water.

Step 3: Add flower food Add some flower food to the water and set the container aside. If you don't have flower food, add a few drops of bleach and 1 teaspoon of sugar per quart of water. This will provide nutrients for the flowers and rid the water of any bacteria.

Step 4: Trim stems Place the shortest greens and flowers in your container first, trimming their stems one at a time to create a range of heights. They shouldn't be a uniform length—a summer arrangement should mimic the unpredictability of flowers growing wild.

TIP: For the best summer wildflower effect, use flowers picked from nearby fields and meadows.

Step 5: Fill arrangement Fill in your arrangement with gradually taller flowers and branches, trimming them to various heights, until you've created a wild, abundant, overgrown effect.